Sport

Double trouble for pair

GILLAMOOR and Spout House met twice in the space of two days in the Feversham League. The first encounter was at Spout House where Gillamoor’s hopes of retaining the League title suffered a setback when they were narrowly defeated by three runs in a keenly fought game.

Gillamoor’s decision to insert the hosts backfired when Spout House openers Charlie Allott (11) and Dan Medd (22) lashed 31 of the first six overs, including a massive six by Medd.

Though they departed close together, both victims of Adam Durrant (2 for 12), Spout House continued to prosper, and an unbroken 30 run partnership between Barry Wheldon (31 not out) and James Allison (11 not out) took them to an eventual 83 for 3 in eighteen overs.

Gillamoor set about the run chase purposefully, with Ian Smith and Nick Ibbotson both batting confidently. It took a brilliant catch by Warren Jones off Allison (2 for 22) to remove Smith for 22, and then Ibbotson fell to a grubber from Dan Smith for 12.

Jack Brian (14) and Adam Durrant (12) maintained the challenge. With just ten runs to win, the turning point was the run out of Brian by wicketkeeper Allott off the first ball of the 16th over. Mark Farrar (3 for 17) then achieved a double wicket maiden.

Off the final over, with the last pair at the crease, Gillamoor still required seven runs for victory, but after Liam Allenby struck a three, Farrar had the last man stumped by Allott, who claimed two other stumpings and a catch, as well as that crucial run our. As well as Farrar, Dan Smith also took three wickets at the cost of 19 runs.

Forty eight hours later, Gillamoor gained their revenge, this time at home. Sent in by Spout House, Gillamoor lost a wicket in the first over. Tom Munday then contributed ten, but it was left to Matt Durrant to increase the tempo with a quickfire 24.

Jonathon Leckenby’s spell of three wickets for 11 runs halted Gillamoor’s progress for a while, until the arrival at the crease of Alec Medd, who is now a genuine all-rounder of considerable ability. Medd hit an unbeaten 39, including an astonishing 26 in the last over, as Gillamoor ended on 109 for 9. Dan Smith 2 for 16.

Spout House’s hopes suffered an early setback with the departure of their talisman, Charlie Allott, and thereafter they were never in contention. Dan Medd made 21, but it was his younger brother Alec who took the accolades, removing the Spout House “tail” to emerge, for the second time this season, with figures of 5 wickets for 8 runs - Spout House slumping to 69 all out, still 41 runs short of their target.